Beloved old dramas?

I mean something from earlier than 2005ish… honestly ALMOST everything even somewhat recent is a bit too predictable for me. There are exceptions of course, but the old dramas somehow feel slightly fresher, like the tropes within them weren’t beat into a dead horse quite yet.

The genre & country of origin doesn’t really matter. I would say romance is preferred, but if a show is good & you like it/find it memorable it doesn’t matter what it’s about. 

Some of my personal favorites:

• Ruler of Your Own World (SK, 2003)
• With Love (Japan, 1998)
• Hitorigurashi (Japan, 1996)
• 29-sai no Christmas (Japan, 1994)
• Koi no Chikara (Japan, 2002)

All of them feature romance, but it's not necessarily the main subject of the drama, if you get what I mean. In some of them, the emphasis is more on self-discovery rather than romance itself.

 neverwhere:

Came here to say this :D  I adore the manga and the drama is my happy place <3 (I can't believe it's now been almost 20 years since I first watched it! That's some good staying power ;-)

Ooh I haven't read the manga but now I want to look for it. 

• Gokusen
• Liar Game (Japan)

Try:

• My Name is Kim Samsoon
• Delightful girl chunhyang
• Winter sonata
• I am sorry i love you
• Save the last dance for me
• Autumn in my heart
• My Girl
• what planet are you from
• Into the Sunlight
• Feelings
• Wuri's House
• First Love
• Tomato
• Shoot for the stars
• Bean Chaff of My Life

+1 Long Vacation (1996) -> my favorite "old" drama haha! A hidden gem for me , a must-watch for romance and slice of life lover :)

Japan:

1 Litre no Namida
Lipstick
Love Generation
Love Revolution
Boku Dake no Madonna
Kimi wa Petto
Gokusen
GTO (1998)
Seija no Koushin
Ai no Uta (2005)
Algernon ni Hanataba wo (2002)
Anata no Tonari ni Dare ka Iru?
Antique
At Home Dad
Beach Boys
Beautiful Life
Bijo ka Yajuu
Deep Love: Ayu no Monogatari
Densha Otoko
Hero
Hotman
Long Love Letter
Iguana no Musume
Keizoku
Kisarazu Cat's Eye
Koukou Kyoushi (1993 and 2003 versions)
Last Christmas
Lunch no Joou
Majo no Jouken
Minami-kun no Koibito
Nemureru Mori
Orange Days
Pride
Ring Saishushou
1 Million Stars Falling From the Sky
Sore wa, Totsuzen Arashi no You ni
Stand Up!
Star no Koi
Strawberry on the Shortcake
Summer Snow
to Heart
Sukeban Deka 1-3.
You Are Under Arrest
Taiyou no Kisetsu
Yan Papa
Yasha

Taiwan:

Devil Beside You (2005)
At the Dolphin Bay
Marmalade Boy
My MVP Valentine
100% Senorita
The Rose
MARS

South Korea:

Dae Jang Geum
Taste Sweet Love
Princess Lulu (2005)
Delightful Girl Choon Hyang (2005)
My Girl (2005)
Successfull Story of a Bright Girl
Cat on the Roof
Wonderful Life (2005)

China:

Demi Gods & Semi Devils (2003)
Chinese Paladin (2005)
Princess Returning Pearl (1998)